Be and have

To talk about experiencing physical sensations like hunger, thirst, heat and cold, we use the structure be +
adjective. Feel + adjective is also possible. Note that we do not usually use have + noun to express these
ideas.

I am hungry. (NOT I have hunger.)

Are you thirsty? (NOT Do you have thirst?)
Are you warm enough?
I am sleepy.
I am afraid.
I feel hungry.
I feel fine.
I feel cold.

Note also the expressions:

Be right, be wrong and be lucky.

You are right.

He is lucky.
Am I wrong?

Height, weight, age, size and color

Be, and not have, is used to talk about height, weight, age, size and color.

She is nearly forty. (NOT She has nearly forty.)

Her eyes are blue. (NOT Her eyes have blue.)
My brother is six feet tall. (NOT My brother has six feet height.)
She is the same height as her husband.
What size are your shoes?
I wish I was a few inches taller.
I wish I was a few kilos lighter.

Note that in measuring expressions we do not use be heavy.

She weighs forty-eight kilos. (NOT She is forty-eight kilos heavy.)

Note on the verb weigh

Weigh is one of those verbs which are not normally used in the progressive form.

I weighed fifty-six kilos two months ago. (NOT I was weighing fifty-six kilos two months ago.)

However, weigh can be used in the progressive form when it does not mean ‘have weight’.

The scales broke when she was weighing herself the other day.

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